Totalizing device



Aug. 4, 1936. F. B. TROUTMAN TOTALIZING DEVICE Filed Sept. 2l, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug 4, 1936- v F. B. TROUTMAN 2,049,634

TOTALIZING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gw y jzwfzZf.' V A Rmmwzfm /zgm Ww] mb Patented Aug.l 4, 1936 TOTALIZING DEVICE Ferdinand B. Troutman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Chicago Daily News, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation o! Illinois Application September 21, 1931, Serial No. 563,932

I Claims.

This invention relates to totalizing counters and while it is a general application it is particularly useful in press work where there may be a num ber of presses doing the same kind of work independent of one another. In such cases it is desirable to have, instantly available, an indication of the total number of papers or the like turned out by all of the presses.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved totalizing arrangement of the type that totalizes the number of completed operations of a plurality of machines or other devices. Totalizing counters of this type generally include a setting device individual to each of the machines and a testing device for successively connecting the totalizing counter to keach of the setting devices. testing device is generally provided with a bank oi contacts over which a wiper arm moves, said contacts being electrically connected to the respective setting devices. When a setting device operates it places a characteristic potential upon its associated contact of the testing device and when the wiper moves over a contact having this characteristic potential it causes the totalizing counter to operate. In such arrangements in the prior art it has been customary to continuously operate the wiper of the testing device, even though there may be appreciable intervals of time between successive operations to the counter. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide such an arrangement wherein the wipers are not continuously operated. As long as no count is to be made the testing device remains stationary.

As soon as any one oi the machines has completed an operation of which the count is being made the testing device is automatically brought into operation and continues in operation only as long as there are completed operations to be i counted. Thereafter, if there are no more completed operations to be counted. the testing device comes to rest. If a second press should have completed its operation at or prior to this time the testing device will continue itsoperation until it completes the registration or count oi the operation of this other machine, etc., until all ci' the operations at the time completed are registered upon the totalizing counter. In the event that a machine should be stopped at the instant that it completed an operation this operation must be counted but it should not be counted more than once. It is an object of the present inventionto provide a device of the class described which will accomplish (Cl. 23S- 92) both functions, namely, nrst. to count each completed operation independent of the continued operation of the machine, and, secondly, to make certain that no operation will be counted more than once. v 5

To make certain that each completed operation is counted I provide a relay which is operated responsive to the completion of the operation and is thereupon locked in its operated position even though the machine may conl0 tinue to operate. 'I'his relay places a characteristic potential upon an associated contact of the testing device and is arranged to be released when it has brought about a single op eration of the counter. In the event that the 15 machine involved was stopped in its exact position. corresponding to the completion of a working operation this relay would ordinarily be reoperated after it is released thereby bringing about another count. This source of error 20 is avoided by providing an additional relay which is operated by the counting relay to open the initial operating circuit of the counting relay, said additional relay locking itself in its operated position as long as the machine re- 25 mains in its critical position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement which can be set to give an indication of the completion of any predetermined count. This indication may be 30 a visual or audible signal, or this indicating arrangement may be utilized to stop the machine at such time.

'Ihe attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent 35 from the following speciilcation taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings Figures 1 and 2, when placed with Figure 2 to the right of Figure 1, consti- 4o tute a simple circuit diagram illustrating the principles or my invention.

I have shown, by way of illustration, my invention applied for totalizing the output of a number of independently operated presses al- 45 though it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other types of machines. One of the presses is indicated, in diagrammatic form, by the rectangle i and is supplied with electrical energy over a line 2 by way of a circuit 50 breaker 3 controlled by a relay I. Associated with the machine I is a ratchet mechanism i driving a cam 6 that is adapted to close an electrical contact 1 once for each revolution of the cam t. The arrangement is such that the 55 ratchet is advanced one notch each time that the press I turns out a predetermined number of papers, in the present instance. The ratchet wheel 5 is provided with ten teeth whereby the cam 6 makes one complete revolution for every one hundred papers turned out by the press I. It is of course understood that the adjustment may be such that the cam will make one revolution for any other predetermined definite number of papers output of the press. Each machine is provided with an individual setting device S and all the machines are provided with a common testing device 'I' and a totalizing counter C.

Each setting device comprises a counting relay I0, a release relay II, and a resetting relay I2. There are as many such setting devices as there are presses. The testing device T comprises a rotary step-by-step switch having four banks of contacts and four wipers moving over the respective banks. The testing switch is so arranged that the wipers leave one set of contacts before they engage with the next set. Any of the many Well known forms of step-bystep rotary switches of the kind now well known in the electrical art may be used, no novelty being claimed for the switch per se except insofar as is entered into the combination herein disclosed. A switch suitable for this purpose is shown in the United States Patent No. 1,107,153 issued August 11, 1914.

An explanation will now be given of the manner of operation of the apparatus thus far described. When the press I completes one hundred papers it closes the switch contact 1 thereby completing a circuit for the counting relay I0 of the associated setting device as follows: From the negative line, through the switch 1 and the back contact of the resetting relay I2, thence through the winding of the counting relay I0 to the positive line. The relay I0 at its front contact I5 establishes a circuit for the resetting relay I2 and at its front contact I6 it establishes a locking circuit for itself as follows: From the negative line, through the front contact I6 and the back contact of the release relay I I, through the winding of the relay I0 to the positive line. The initial operating circuit of the relay IU by way of the back contact of the relay I2 is opened upon operation of the relay i2. At its front contact l1 the counting relay places negative potential upon the starting conductor 2D and at its front contact IB the counting relay I0 places negative potential upon a contact 22 in the third bank of the testing device T. The wipers 25 and 26 that move respectively over the first and second banks of contacts of the rotary switch are connected together by means of a jumper and in a like manner the wipers 2l and 28 that move over the third and fourth banks of contacts are also connected together by means of a jumper.

When negative potential is placed upon the starting conductor 2U by the operation of a counting relay I0 there is established a circuit for the self-interrupting motor magnet M that moves the respective wipers over the four banks of contacts in a step-by-step manner. The wipers of the testing switch T are advanced step-by-step until the wiper 21 engages a contact such as the contact 22 having negative potential thereon due to the fact that the associated counting relay II) is operated. At this time a circuit is established for the totalizing counter as follows: From the contact 22 having negative potential thereon, through the wiper 21 and wiper 2l to the associated contact engaged by the wiper 2l, thence through the common Jumper connections between all of the contacts of that bank to the operating winding of the counter C and back to the positive conductor. The counter C therefore makes one count. At the same time the wiper 26 engages a contact Il that has negative potential thereon through the front contact Il of the counting relay Il since all of the contacts of the second bank are connected together and to the contacts of the fourth bank. There is, therefore, established a circuit to the release relay II by way of the wipers 20 and 2l. 'Ihis relay is preferably made slower acting than the counter C. The relay II operates and at its back contact opens the circuit for the relay III. 'I'his relay therefore drops back and at its contact I1 it removes the negative potential from the starting conductor 20 thereby stopping the operation of the motor magnet. This is true only if, at this time, none of the other counting relays of the setting devices of the various machines is in its operated position. If any other counting relay is in its operated position at the time that the counting relay I of the setting device associated with machine I is released, it is obvious that negative potential will be maintained upon the conductor 20 with the result that the motor magnet will continue operating to continue moving the wipers along their respective banks of contacts. Each time that the wiper 21 engages a contact having negative potential thereon it will bring about the operation of the totalizing counter C and each time that the wiper 26 engages a contact having negative potential thereon it will operate the associated release relay to release the associated counting relay and remove the negative potential from that contact. If, at any instant, all of the counting relays are in their released position there will be no potential upon the starting conductor 20 and therefore the motor magnet M will cease operating.

If the counting relay I0 of any of the setting devices is operated at the instant that the wiper 21 is resting upon the contact corresponding to the contact 22 associated with that counting relay the totalizing counter will immediately make one count and the relay II will be energized to restore the counting relay. The motor magnet is arranged to operate at such a speed as to move the wipers over all of the contacts of their respective banks in a period of time appreciably less than the minimum possible interval between successive counts to be made of the operation of any one machine. By this arrangement it is made certain that after the contact I has once closed and the relay I0 operated, a count of this operation will be made and the relay I0 restored preparatory to the next operation before the contact I could be closed a second time by the cam 6 making a second revolution.

Upon energization of the release relay I I the circuit for the counting relay I0 is opened, as previously stated, thereby causing the release of the relay III. At the contact I5 one circuit for the winding of the relay I2 is opened. The relay I2 is provided in order to prevent any possibility of reoperation of the counting relay I0 in the event that the machine I should be stopped at the time that the cam 8 is maintaining the contact I closed. In this event it is to be noted that upon release of the counting relay I0 the circuit for the resetting relay I2 is maintained closed i testing device.

through its front contact and through the contact 1. As long as this relay is operated it is not possible to reestablish an operating circuit tor the counting relay I0. This can only be done by first opening the contact 'I to permit release of the relay I2 and then reclosing the contact 1 to establish a circuit for the counting relay through the back contact of the relay I2. It is to be further noted that as long as the machine I is in operation the relay III will never be released at the time that the contact 1 is closed. This is due to the fact that upon the initial closure of the contact 1 the relay III operates and remains operated only until released by the Since the speed oi' operation o! the testing device is such as to test and release all oi' the relays I0 of all o! the setting devices in a period of time less than the minimum necessary for the cam 6 to be operated to one complete revolution, it follows that the contact 1 will always be open when the relay I is released except in those cases where the machine controlling the contact 1 is stopped at a position such as to maintain the contact 1 closed. In this case the relay I2 will remain operated after the first operation of the relay I0 to prevent a reoperation of the relay I0 after it is released.

In addition to the totalizing counting arrangement I have provided an arrangement that can be set t-o stop all of the presses that are controlled over the line conductors 2 after they have completed a predetermined number oi! operations. The apparatus for accomplishing this result is shown in Figure 2. The apparatus shown in Figure 2 is arranged to receive one impulse oi' current each time that the totalizing counter C receives one impulse of current and is arranged so that it can be set to open the line circuit 2 after it has received any predetermined number of impulses up to one thousand. Since each impulse represents one hundred papers it is apparent that the apparatus shown in Figure 2 is adapted to stop the presses after they have completed any predetermined number of papers up to one hundred thousand, in units of one hundred. It will be apparent from the following description that this apparatus may be extended to be operative for any predetermined larger number of operations.

The mechanism shown in Figure 2 comprises three counting registers indicated at (2R-I, CR-Z, and Clt-3 of substantially identical construction and having associated therewith means whereby the counting register may be set to trip the switch 3 (Figure 1) when the register has completed a predetermined count. This means includes a hand operated rotary switch 40 comprising three separate switching units 4I, 42 and Il associated with the respective counting registers, and suitable relays controlled by the Joint action of the counting registers and the hand operated rotary switch 40.

The three counting registers are substantially identical and each includes four banks of contacts having separate wipers movable thereover and a single step-by-step magnet for moving the four wipers in unison. The magnet tor operating the wipers is, in this case, preferably not provided with a self-lnterrupting contact.

Each of the switching units oi the hand operated rotary switch III comprises a wiper and a series of separate contacts numbered from zero to ten, respectively, said contacts being engaged by the wiper in the various positions thereof.

An explanation will now be given o! the manner of operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 2. Each time that the wiper 21 oi the testing switch T (Figure l) ilnds negative potential upon a contact in its bank it sends an impulse ot negative current to the counter C, as previously described. At the same time it sends a negative impulse over the conductor 50, thence by way of a back contact on a relay 5I and a back contact of a restoring relay 52 to the winding 5I of the operating magnet of the counting register CR-I. The magnet is 4therefore energized and advances its four wipers one step. Each contact bank is provided with ten contacts numbered I to III, respectively, and an eleventh contact which is the zero home position. The wipers of the counting register CR-I take one step for each impulse of current received from the testing device T until they reach the tenth position. When the four wipers reach their tenth position a circuit is completed for the relay 52, said circuit extending from the positive line, through the winding ot the relay 52 and conductor 55 to the tenth contact of the right hand bank of contacts of the counting register CR-I, thence through the wiper 5S which is at this time on its tenth contact, and back to the negative line. The relay 52 operates and at its front contact establishes a circuit for the magnet 53. The magnet 53 is thereby energized and it advances the four wipers 56, 51, 58 and 59 one step thereby bringing those wipers back to the zero or home position. As soon as the wiper 56 leaves its contact it breaks the circuit for the relay 52 thereby permitting this relay to fall back and open the circuit for the magnet 53. At the time that the relay 52 was operated over a circuit extending through the tenth contact of the bank engaged by the wiper 56 there was also established a circuit for the magnet 53' of the counting register Crt- 2, said circuit extending from the positive line, through the magnet winding, through the back contact of a relay 52 -corresponding to the relay 52, thence by way of conductor 55, and the tenth contact and wiper 56, to the negative line. The magnet 53 is therefore also energized and advances its wipers one step. At the time of interruption of the circuit to the relay 52 by the advancement of the wiper 55 from its tenth position to its normal position the circuit for the magnet 53' is also opened with the result that this magnet is also deenergized. This leaves the wipers of the counting register CR2 on their contacts nurnber I. The magnet 53 is now ready to continue receiving its impulses from the testing device. The magnet of the counting registers move. at a i'ar greater speed than the movement of the testing device T, hence there is no danger that an impulse from the testing device might be lost during the operation of the relay 52.

The counting registers CRf-I are stepped around their bank one time for each I0 impulses received from the testing device. For each complete swing of the wipers of the counting registers CR-I over their contact banks the counting register CRf-2 is advanced one step.

When the counting register CR-2 has received ten impulses from the counting register vClt-I it transmits one impulse to the magnet of the counting register CR-3 thereby advancing its wipers one step. This is accomplished as follows: The wiper 55' is connected to the negative line and extends its circuit through its tenth contact ,and the conductor.55 to the relay 52', and also to the magnet 52" by way of the back contact of the relay 52". The relay 52 and the magnet 53" are connected in parallel. The magnet 53 is thus energized to advance its wipers one step. At the same time the relay 52 is energized and at its front contact establishes a circuit for the magnet 53' which advances its associated wipers one step. As the wiper 56' leaves its tenth contact it interrupts the circuits to the relay 52 and the magnet 53.

It is to be noted that the contact banks engaged by the Wipers 56, 56', 56 are connected respectively to the corresponding contacts of the switching units 4|, 42 and 43. 'I'he three wipers of the hand operated switch 40 are set in accordance with the number of papers required. For the sake of illustration assume that 538 units of papers are required, it being remembered that each unit represents papers. We are therefore 'assuming that 53,800 papers are needed. The wiper of the switch 4| is set in its fifth position, the wiper of the switch 42 is set in its third position, and the wiper of the switch 43 is set in its eighth position. The counting registers operate in the manner previously set forth until the wiper 55 of the register CR3 reaches its eighth position. At this time a circuit is established from the negative side of the power line, through the wiper 5B" at its eighth contact, through the wiper of the switching unit 43 that is now in its eighth position, through the winding of a relay 5|", and thence back to the positive side of the line. The relay 5|" operates and at its front contact prepares a circuit for the relay 5|. It is to be remembered that when the wiper 56 was stepped over from its seventh toits eighth position the wiper 56 was stepped from its tenth to its zero or home position. The operation of the device continues in the same manner as was previously described until the wiper 56 comes to its third contact which is the contact corresponding to the setting of the wiper of the switching unit 42. As this time a circuit is established for the relay 5| as follows:

From the negative line, through the wiper 56' at its third contact, through the third contact of the switching unit 42 and its wiper, thence by way of thefront contact of the relay 5|" to the winding of the relay 5| and the positive line. This brings about the operation of the relay 5|. At its front contact the relay 5|' prepares a circuit for the relay 5|. The circuit for the relay 5| is not completed until the wiper 56' of the counting register CR-i has been brought to its iifth position corresponding to the position of the hand operated switch 4|. When the wiper 56 reaches its fifth position it establishes a circuit for the relay 5|, said circuit extending from the negative line and the wiper' 56, which is resting on its fifth contact, thence by way of the fth contact of the switching unit 4|, the wiper of this switching unit and the front contact of relay 5| to the winding of the relay 5| and the positive line. The relay 5| operatesand at its lower front contact it establishes a circuit for relay 4 (Figure 1) that controls the opening of the switch 3. The circuit for the relay 4 extends from the negative line and wiper 56, wiper 4|, and the front contact of the relay 5| to the relay 4 and the positive line. The relay 4 operates and establishes a circuit for the opening coil of a switch 3 that controls the connection of the line 2 to the source of power. The power line 2 being deenergized, all of the presses are stopped. The relay 4 may, of course, also control the giving of a visual or audible signal.

I provide an arrangement for restoring the three counting registers to their zero or home position in order to render them available for future use. To accomplish this end it is merely necessary to close a hand operated switch 5l. I All three of the registers are returned to their home position in the same manner and a description with reference to one of the registers will be applicable to the other two. Contacts to 9 engaged by the wiper 5l are tied together by jumpers, whereas contacts to 9 engaged by the wiper 58 are connected to the corresponding contacts that are engaged by the wiper 5l. If the wipers 5'1-58--53 are in any of their first nine positions a circut will be establ5 lished for .the restoring relay 52 as follows: From the negative line at the wiper 51 to the conductor 62, thence by way of the hand operated switch 60, wiper 58, through its assoelated contact to the corresponding contact en- 20 gaged by wiper 59, thence by way of this wiper to the conductor 55 and the relay 52 to the positive line. 'I'he relay 52 operates and at its front contact establishes a circuit for the magnet 53. The magnet is thereby energized and advances 25 its wipers one step. As the wipers 51-58--59 move ofi the contact whereon they stand, to the next contact, they open the magnet circuit bringing about a deenergization of the magnet. When the wipers reach the next contact they 30 again bring about an energization oi' the magnet. -The magnet 53 thus continues stepping the four wipers until they pass from their ninth to their tenth position. 'I'he wipers are then advanced from their tenth position to their home position in the manner previously pointed out. A signal 65, which may comprise a lamp or other signalling device, is provided for indicating the completion of the restoration of the registers to their zero or home position. When the hand operated switch 60 is closed a circuit is established for the signal 55 from the positive line, through this signal and the conductor 62 to the negative line by way of any one of the wipers 51-51-5l. When all three sets of wipers have been returned to their home position the circuit for this signal is opened.

While -I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited 50 to the precise details herein shown, the same being merely illustrative of the general principles of my invention, nor is the invention limited for use on presses, since it may likewise be used in connection with other machines where it is desirable to obtain a reading of the vtotal output of a plurality of machines. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination witha plurality of separate individually operated contacts, means for counting the total number of operations of said contacts, said means including individual setting means associated with each contact and comprising a counting relay and a resetting relay both relays being normally deenergized, circuit 65 connections for operating both relays responsive to the operation of the associated contact, a locking circuit for the counting relay independent of the contact, circuit connections separately controlled by the counting` relay and by said contact for maintaining the resetting relay operated, said resetting relay controlling the reoperation of the counting relay, a counting mechanism common to all of .said setting devices, saiclv mechanism including a contact bank 7 with individual contacts for the respective setting devices, a counter, and means for connecting the counter to the respective contacts oi the bank one at a time, circuit connections controlled by the respective counting relays for placing a characteristic potential on the associated bank contact for operating the counter, means controlled by the counter connecting means for releasing the operated counting relays of -the respective setting mechanisms upon the completion of the circuit connections oi the associated bank contacts, whereby the released counting relay is rendered available for reoperation conditioned upon the release oi the resetting relay.

2. In an apparatus of the class described a' counting mechanism for totalizing the number of operations of a plurality of independently operated machines, said mechanism including a counter, a contact for each machine, and motor means for connecting the counter to said contacts one at a time, individual setting means associated with the respective machines, each of said setting means including a counting relay and a resetting relay, circuit connections for operating the relays responsive to the completion by its machine of an operation to be counted, a locking circuit for itself established by the counting relay, circuit connections established by the counting relay for placing a characteristic potential on its associated contact on the counting mechanism for operating the counter when the same is connected to that contact on the counting mechanism, said setting means including means for releasing the counting relay upon operation of the counter over the associated contact, and means responsive to the operation of any setting device for initiating the operation of the motor means and tor continuing operation of said motor means as long as any one of said contacts has a characteristic potential thereon.

3. In an apparatus oi the class described av counting mechanism for totalizing the number of operations of a plurality of independently operated machines, said mechanism including a counter, a contact for each machine, and means for connecting the counter to said contacts one at a time, individual setting means associated with the respective machines, each of said setting means including a counting relay and a resetting relay, circuit connections for operating the relays including a contact closed responsive to the completion by its machine of an operation to be counted, a locking circuit for itself established by the counting relay, circuit connections established by the counting relay for placing a characteristic potential on its associated contact on the counting mechanism for operating the counter when the same is connected to that contact on the counting mechanism, said setting means including means for releasing the counting relay upon operation of the counter over the associated contact, said last means comprising a release relay.

4. In combination, a plurality of normally open switch means, a corresponding plurality of independent operating means for closing each of said switchmeans, individual control circuits controlled by the respective switch means, means including separate relays controlled by actuation of said switch means for characteristically conditioning the respective control circuit in response to closure of the corresponding switch means, locking circuits established by initial actuation of said control circuits for maintaining the characteristic condition when said switch means is released to normal position, commutating means, motor means for operating said commutating means to contact successively with each of said control circuits, means in each of said control circuits for continuously operating said motor means as long as any one of said circuits is characteristically conditioned, a totalizing counter operable upon engagement of said commutating means with any one of said characteristically conditioned circuits, said commutating means removing the characteristic condition of each circuit as it brings about the operation oi said counter, and means responsive to removal of said characteristic condition for releasing the locking circuit of the associated control circuit.

5. In combination with a plurality oi' machines, individual normally open switch means adapted to be closed once for each time that the corresponding machine completes a predetermined series of operations, corresponding individual circuits controlled by said switch means including a contact for each of said circuits, closure oi said switch means placing a characteristic potential upon the corresponding contact of the corresponding individual circuit, a, totalizing counter adapted to be actuated upon connection to any one of said contacts having said potential thereon, commutator means operable to connect said counter successively to each of said contacts, said commutator means removing the characteristic potential from said contacts as it brings about operation of said counter, and means in said circuits for continuously operating said commutator means as long as there is a characteristic potential remaining upon any one oi' said contacts.

6. In combination with a plurality of machines, a corresponding plurality of circuits, a contact for each of said circuits, means responsive to completion of a certain operation by any one of said machines for closing said circuits to place a characteristic potential upon the contact in said circuit, means for maintaining said circuit closedA upon deenergization of said closing means, a totalizing counter operable upon connection thereoi' to any one of said contacts having said characteristic potential thereon, motor means controlled by closure of any one oi said circuits for connecting said counter successively to each of said contacts, said counter being energized once each time it is connected to a contact having a characteristic potential thereon, said connection simultaneously removing said potential and opening the corresponding circuit to condition said circuit for reclosure by said circuit closing means.

7. In combination with a plurality of machines, a corresponding plurality of circuits, an individual contact in each of said circuits, means responsive to completion of a predetermined operation by each of said machines for closing the corresponding cir'cuit to place a characteristic potential upon the associated contact of said circuit, means for maintaining said circuits closed upon deenergization of the associated circuit closing means, a totalizing counter operable upon connection thereof to any one of said contacts having said characteristic potential thereon, motor means controlled 'by closure of any one of said circuits for connecting said counter successively to each of said contacts, said counter being energized once each time it is connected to a contact having a characteristic ing said counter to wille l predetermined conpotential thereon, said connection simultaneously tact at least once within the time interval elapsremoving said characteristic potential from said in! between successive actuations of the corcontact and opening the corresponding circuit responding circuit closing means by thc lucci- 5 to recondition said circuit tor reciosure by said ated machines.

circuit closing means, said motor means caus- PIRDINAND B. TROUTMAN. 

